Zhou Zheng
The Stunning Top Star's Inner Thoughts Leak Out, Turning Everyone's Least Favorite into the Group's Darling
Biodata
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Zhou Zheng (周政) |
| Alias(es) | Zheng-ge, used by Bai Xiaoze 20 |
| Gender | Male |
| Affiliation | Talent-show training camp; shares a dormitory with five other trainees 14 |
| Occupation/Role | Trainee and talent-show contestant 14 47 |
| Status | Alive; his originally tragic life trajectory has been changed 26 48 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 10 10 |
Appearance
Zhou Zheng is an honest-looking young man with regular features and an upright bearing. Shang Shujue remarks that his name suits his appearance 10.
- Gives a bashful, slightly goofy smile when Shang Shujue notices him 10.
- Blushes when pushed forward to speak to Shang Shujue and rubs the back of his head when embarrassed 14.
Personality
Zhou Zheng is straightforward and trusting, especially toward people he admires. Before learning about Yang Xuehuan’s intentions, he believes she is the same girl he admired in high school. Even after she abruptly blocks him, he recognizes that his former self would have made excuses for her and offered her money 14 15 20.
He cares deeply about his family. Hearing that his misplaced trust could lead to their deaths leaves him distraught and desperate for answers. Although initially impulsive, he accepts his friends’ criticism, apologizes, and agrees to take responsibility for preventing that future rather than relying entirely on Shang Shujue 15.
Around his fellow trainees, he is playful and eager to join the gossip. He retaliates against Bai Xiaoze’s teasing with tickling, enthusiastically supplies music for Bai Xiaoze’s awkward dance demonstration, and openly declares that Shang Shujue is in love with Song Yanqing 20 33 39.
Abilities & Skills
Street Dance
- Performs street dance with considerable power and technique, holding Shang Shujue’s attention and making him want to try it himself 47.
- Advances through the performance round in which eight of the first fourteen contestants are eliminated 47.
Hearing Shang Shujue’s Thoughts
- Can hear Shang Shujue’s leaked inner voice, including information about his own threatened future 10 14.
- Uses this foreknowledge to reassess Yang Xuehuan and avoid the relationship that would have ruined his life 15 20 26.
- Continues listening to revelations about other trainees, including Hong Zhenghua and Qi Tianlin 48 75.
Background / History
Helping Yu Zeqi
When Ren Xiaoxue tries to persuade Yu Zeqi to leave for a dangerous banquet, Zhou Zheng interrupts her tearful performance by pointing out a vegetable leaf stuck to her teeth. Her momentary distraction allows Yu Zeqi to escape into the surrounding trainees 10.
After Ren Xiaoxue leaves, Zhou Zheng joins the others in comforting Yu Zeqi. He notices Shang Shujue secretly plucking Yu Zeqi’s hair and helps create opportunities for him to continue. Afterward, he asks whether Shang Shujue collected enough, much to Yu Zeqi’s dismay 10.
Discovering His Original Fate
Zhou Zheng encounters Shang Shujue in the dormitory elevator after midnight with his five roommates. Through Shang Shujue’s thoughts, he learns that he was originally destined to be eliminated shortly before debut night and subsequently deceived by Yang Xuehuan, the girl he had confessed to in high school. At this point, she is not his girlfriend 14.
The revelations describe a future that has not yet occurred:
| Foretold event | Details |
|---|---|
| Fabricated sexual encounter and pregnancy | Yang Xuehuan would use sleeping pills to stage an encounter and persuade him to take responsibility for another person’s child 14. |
| Loss of a possible civil-service career | After leaving entertainment, he might have passed the civil service exam, but Yang Xuehuan would secretly report him out of jealousy 14. |
| Destruction of his family | His parents would die after being angered by her, while his older brother and sister would die in a car crash 14. |
| Destitution and death | Yang Xuehuan would flee with the money, leaving him homeless; he would eventually freeze to death on the street 14. |
Breaking with Yang Xuehuan
Xu Zhichen and Qiao Ze stop Zhou Zheng from acting rashly and encourage him to investigate for himself. After discussing the situation with his roommates, he sends Yang Xuehuan a test message claiming that his family’s company is nearly bankrupt and that he cannot provide her with a comfortable life. These financial difficulties are part of the test, not an established account of his family’s circumstances 15 20.
Yang Xuehuan replies by wishing him happiness, then immediately blocks and deletes him. Her reaction exposes the shallowness of her interest, and his roommates’ teasing turns into a dorm-wide tickling fight 20.
Shang Shujue later has evidence of Yang Xuehuan’s scams delivered to Zhou Zheng, definitively changing his life trajectory. By the time Hong Zhenghua’s similar predicament is exposed, Zhou Zheng confirms internally that he has blocked her and come to his senses 26 48.
Continuing the Competition
Zhou Zheng remains active in training and performs a powerful street-dance routine during the livestream competition. He advances alongside Bai Zhiyi, Yu Zeqi, Jian Yichen, Zhang Yunchen, and Xu Zhichen 47.
Relationships
- Shang Shujue — Calls him “Brother Jue.” His leaked thoughts provide the warning that allows Zhou Zheng to escape Yang Xuehuan’s scheme, followed by concrete evidence of her scams 14 26.
- Yang Xuehuan — His high-school crush and would-be exploiter. He tests her motives and ultimately blocks her after learning the danger she poses 14 20 48.
- Xu Zhichen — Roommate and friend who restrains him during the elevator revelations and urges him to stay alert 14 15.
- Qiao Ze — Roommate who challenges his impulse to depend on Shang Shujue and helps analyze his situation 15 20.
- Bai Xiaoze — Younger roommate and frequent teasing partner; their banter escalates into a playful tickling battle 20.
- Yu Zeqi — Fellow trainee whom he helps shield from Ren Xiaoxue and comforts afterward 10.
Notable Quotes
“Lady, stop crying. There’s a vegetable leaf stuck to your teeth!” 10
“Brother Jue has already helped me. I’ll handle this properly and won’t cause him any trouble.” 15
“Brother Jue is madly in love!” 39